Lia looked at her hands hanging in the air, clenched them, and felt the lingering softness in her hands, feeling a sense of loss.

"Please don't thank me, Miss Lia."

After saying that, Xiangzi bent down and bowed respectfully.

"We will never forget your kindness in saving us."

"You can call me anytime, use me anytime."

Hearing her words, Lia could only smile helplessly.

A hand was placed back on Vanilla's head and rubbed it.

"How old are you? You don't need to act so mature."

Vanilla felt very comfortable being massaged and couldn't help but make a 'whoosh' sound.

Catgirls can be unhappy too, and sometimes, Lia will comfort them.

Lia smiled, her eyes filled with doting affection:

"have a look."

"He's still a little kid who needs to rely on others."

...

"Victor?"

Lia suddenly pushed open the bedroom door of Victor and stepped into the room.

She looked at the half-open window beside the bed, where a gentle breeze was blowing in through the crack.

Victor was sitting in a chair, leaning against the window.

He was holding a complex and obscure magic book, reading it with great concentration.

The gentle breeze stirred his clothes, making them appear particularly hazy in the morning light.

This is an elegant and noble count.

Lia stared at Victor, somewhat stunned.

"Um?"

Viktor slowly looked up.

Feeling his gaze, Lia felt a little embarrassed.

Did I... bother you?

She regretted saying it as soon as she did.

I've never cared about this much before.

In the past, regardless of whether Viktor was asleep or not, she would rashly push open his bedroom door.

Now that she's said it like this, she seems a little awkward.

But Viktor didn't seem to care, and simply lowered his eyes.

The book shimmered slightly, turning into specks of starlight, and disappeared into my hand.

"fine."

Hearing Victor's response, Lia breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, right."

"How exactly did you do that?"

Victor knew she was referring to vanilla.

The catgirl I brought home yesterday.

In fact, she had become one of Vega's followers.

Hmm... Vega's third follower.

For an evil god, manipulating the thoughts of others is an incredibly easy thing.

Even Angus couldn't stop Vega from turning him into an idiot and wantonly altering his beliefs.

The kitten girl, who had no independent thought, was naturally at Vega's mercy.

Vega gave her thoughts and knowledge, allowing her to skip those tedious stages of enlightenment.

However, he wouldn't tell Lia about this.

So, Viktor began to explain, feigning profundity:

"The power of magic."

"Do you find it amazing?"

Lia nodded, reluctantly accepting.

Immediately, she asked the next question she wanted to ask:

"Shouldn't you and Gwen have come back together?"

Where did Gwen go?

News of Viktor's misdeeds in the North had already reached the capital.

Angus was killed by Jash, who was then killed by Victor and Gwen together.

The entire unfolding of this event is incredibly regrettable.

Although Lia didn't understand either, it was one thing for Victor to beat up Angus, but why did Angus's son also want to kill him?

Is Uncle Angus really that hated?

However, Lia didn't care. Apart from Gwen, she didn't really like Angus's family anyway.

Viktor simply looked out the window and said calmly:

"Gwen?"

"She was summoned by the emperor and returned to the capital ahead of schedule."

Lia blinked, somewhat puzzled.

Why did the emperor summon her?

Before she could ask any further questions, a servant came to the door of Victor's bedroom.

She was breathing heavily, her face flushed, and she seemed very anxious.

Upon seeing Liya, the maid quickly steadied her breathing, patted her chest, and hurriedly said:

"Miss Lia, we've finally found you."

"Ah, Master of the Clan..."

Upon seeing Viktor, she suddenly froze, as if the words were stuck in her throat.

Leah realized the servant's concerns and waved her hand:

"You don't need to worry about him anymore. Just say what's on your mind."

"Yes...yes."

The maid lowered her head in a panic and continued:

"Lady Leon has sent word," she said.

"Among the 'children' we rescued yesterday, there was a... elf mixed in."

Liya was stunned when she heard this.

"An elf?"

"That's what Lady Leon said."

Lia rubbed her forehead, as if feeling a little sad, and fell into deep thought.

As nature's darlings, elves cannot be captured at will.

If a hunter coerces a spirit, the hunter will be punished by nature.

Moreover, the Empire explicitly forbids it, and in terms of international standing, the elves are considered friends of the Empire.

If someone actually dares to capture a Pokémon, and the news gets out...

I'm afraid the imperial army will be at your doorstep the very next day.

As for Cocotte? That doesn't count.

She signed a contract with the Clevina family and became a full-time employee of their household.

Arbitrary oppression.

Lia stroked her chin and murmured:

"Those guys surnamed Leather... they've got some nerve."

After all, the shipment that was just intercepted was destined for the Leiser family.

Lia now understands why a fleet of demi-human slaves needs a fourth-tier warrior to escort it.

So they've uncovered such a huge secret.

"And then, what happened to that elf?"

Hearing Liya's question, the maid lowered her head and hesitantly began to report:

"Everything is fine for now, except..."

"only?"

Lia looked at her with some confusion, gesturing for her to continue:

"That elf lady keeps saying that she wants to find her country's long-lost elf queen."

"Huh? The long-lost Elf Queen?"

...

The capital city is not far from Brighton.

Victor's Mansion.

In the flowerbed, a lightly dressed sprite lies dozing on a cloud.

I woke up suddenly and sneezed.